The WORD today reminds me that I should be aware and thankful of God’s mercy towards me, and it should lead me to be merciful and forgiving towards others.
The readings today teach us about mercy. The first reading, psalm and the gospel shows us what God wants us to realize and do when it comes to mercy.
In the first reading, we can see that the people are asking for God’s mercy. They know that they have sinned and did not do what God wanted them to do. They recognized God’s goodness and their wickedness. This is what God wants from us – humility to accept and recognize our sins which brings about us asking for God’s mercy. No matter what we do, we all sin, and in one way or another do what we want, not what God wants. That is why God wants us to be humble and sorry enough and ask forgiveness to Him.
The psalm echoes our prayer. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. In the movie flywheel, Jay, the used car salesman, was not a very honest one. When the pastor bought from him, the pastor was so happy, thinking he had a good deal, so he said a prayer. Lord, I ask that you treat Jay just like he treated me today in this deal. It got Jay thinking, because he knew he did not treat the pastor fairly. If God would treat us the way we are treating him, if his blessings would be proportional to our love and service of him, then probably we would be in trouble. We hurt God so much. We sin and choose ourselves more than him. We deserve punishment. However, God is good and merciful. As we acknowledge our sins, we ask that God be merciful and not treat us based on our sins. And we should pay it forward.
We know and we should claim in faith that God is merciful. However, the gospel reminds us to do our part as well. Jesus said “Be merciful, just as your father is merciful” God is willing and ready to forgive us, but we should also do our part. We should also forgive others who have sinned against and hurt us. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” God is asking something from us as well.
Am I humble enough to admit that I sin? Am I truly repentant for those sins? Am I ready and willing to forgive others who have hurt me, even if they have not asked forgiveness? IF not, am I praying that God help me be forgiving, just as he is forgiving?
May we always remember that we should be truly sorry for our sins, and that as we ask for God’s forgiveness, we too should be forgiving to others, no matter what.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, thank you for being loving and forgiving. I do not deserve your goodness, but you give it to me anyway. Thank you. Lord, sorry for the many times I sin. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry for doing what I want and not what you want. Help me always be sensitive. Help me repent and do my best not to sin and hurt you. And help me love and forgive others. As you forgive me and love me, may it make me more like you. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
Daily Readings
Monday of the Second Week in Lent
Lectionary: 230
Reading 1
"Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets."
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets."
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Verse Before the Gospel See
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
you have the words of everlasting life.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."
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